Animal Services in Clarke County

We welcome your updates, additions, corrections, or comments: please email us. Information that you provide can be attributed to you or kept anonymous, as you prefer.

Impoundment Facilities or Shelters in Clarke County

Clarke County Animal Shelter is run by the Clarke County Commission for the benefit of the entire county. All cities contribute funding to the shelter. Support is also provided from Nifty & Thrifty, a thrift store operated by the 501c3 nonprofit All 4 Paws to benefit Clarke County Animal Shelter.

Lisa Blackledge serves as director of Clarke County Animal Shelter.

• Stray Hold is 7 days.
• Spay/Neuter is performed on all animals prior to release to the adopter.
• Animal Census Reports are not prepared. County Administrator Christy Roberts had not heard of the law. She said the shelter used to post data online but got behind on putting paperwork into their database.

Animal Control in Clarke County

Animal Control in Unincorporated Areas of Clarke County: Clarke County has no dedicated animal control. The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office is responsibility for animal law enforcement. Call 251-275-4254.

Animal Control Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• Clarke County Administrator Christy Roberts stated that the Town of Grove Hill and the City of Jackson each have an ACO. We did not find any animal control information on any website or Facebook page for the two municipalities. In Jackson, seek assistance from the Jackson Police Department at 251-246-4484. In Grove Hill, call Town Hall at 251-275-3153.
• Jessie Moss is responsible for ordinance and animal control in Thomasville. Call 334-636-3296. Impounded dogs are held for a very short time, according to the Friends of Thomasville Dog Pound Facebook page, which posts photos of found dogs.

If your ACO is unable to help or if your area has no animal services, see this guidance.

Dog Confinement Requirements in Clarke County

County Adoption of Alabama’s Dog Confinement Statute: Dog confinement is not required in unincorporated Clarke County because the Clarke County Commission has not adopted Alabama Code § 3-1-5, which would require that dogs be confined to the owner’s premises or kept in the charge of a responsible person if off-premises. There are still steps you can take to address issues or to encourage the county to require confinement.

Dog Confinement Requirements Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction: It is unclear whether Jackson, Thomasville, Coffeeville, Fulton, or Grove Hill requires owners to confine their dogs. Please email us if you can share information.

How to Report: See How to Report an At-Large Violation.

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Clarke County

See Low-Cost Spay/Neuter in Alabama for programs that may be available to Clarke County residents.

Can you can provide spay/neuter information? Please email us.

Clarke County Documents

• Clarke County Commission Public Records Request Form: The County Commission does not appear to have a Public Records Request form on their website. Call the Commission to request a form or submit according to the Open Records Act template.

Sources

• Christy Roberts, Clarke County Administrator, provided animal shelter and animal control information to Aubrie Kavanaugh on May 5, 2025. Previously, during Alabama Code § 3-1-5 research, Christy stated in a Mar. 28, 2025 email to Kristin Yarbrough that Clarke County had not adopted the statute.
• Lisa Blackledge, Director of Clarke County Animal Shelter, 251-275-1055, provided shelter information to Aubrie Kavanaugh on May 5, 2025.

Do You Have a Correction, Addition, or Comment?

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